Exploring the Upper Amazon

Upon arriving at the airport, a team from Crucero Amazonas will welcome you to the city of Iquitos. A bus will transport you to the boarding port, where you will board an auxiliary boat that will take you to spend the next eight days at your home away from home on board the Crucero Amazonas.

Once on board, settle into your room. Then, head to the third deck for the captain's and crew's welcome and a brief explanation of safety and evacuation protocols. As you begin your journey from the Nanay River to the Amazon River in the direction of Tamshiyacu, take a tour of the ship's common areas. As you navigate, the team will talk about the variety of highly nutritious fruits that the Amazon offers, rich in protein, fiber, iron, and vitamins, such as the Breadfruit Tree, camu camu, aguaje, macambo, aguaymanto, Cocona, passion fruit, lúcuma, coffee, cocoa, etc. To kick off this tropical fruit lesson, try a refreshing passion fruit sour as your settle into your new home. 

The onboard chef and his team will pamper your palate with an exquisite gastronomic experience, using ingredients that the Amazon pantry provides, depending on the season.

The Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Communal Reserve is an excellent location to see wildlife and plants in their native environments. Upon the ships arrival, prepare to go on an excursion in Tamshiyacu Creek in search of local species of birds, monkeys, sloths, caimans, fish, and dolphins. Be sure not to miss the beauty of your first evening's sunset in the Amazon.

This morning, savor your buffet-style breakfast while the ship navigates the Amazon River.  The bartender will greet you on the third deck in the middle of the morning with fruit snacks and jungle-inspired beverages to enjoy while taking in the sights and sounds of the Amazon as the boat transfers to your destination for the day.

After lunch on board, gear up and load onto ship's skiff to enter the calm, black waters of the Yarapa River, a tributary of teh larger Amazon. This river is home to a diverse variety of birds, including black-necked falcons, songbirds, swallows and piprites. Keep your cameras and binoculars ready to observe monkeys and sloths, and if very lucky, spot pink dolphins alongside the skiff. 

Wildlife won't be your only discovery along the Yarapa. During your journey, your guide will introduce you to the Breadfruit Tree (Artocarpus altilis), also known as "Pandisho." The natives of this region use the tree resin to heal wounds and tumors. The fruit itself has a neutral flavor and is a common part of the local diet.

As you continue to sail the Yarapa, the skiff will navigate to a unique natural phenomenon: the confluence of two large rivers, the Ucayali and the Marañón, which merge together and form the pulsing headwaters of the powerful Amazon River. Take in the sounds of the flowing water, swooping swallows, and chattering parrots all around and feel the heartbeat of this truly special location.

After breakfast, board the skiff to go to Puerto Miguel and then continue to a connector of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, where you can meet the Amazon Victoria Regia Lily, a native water lily, and the largest species of lilies that grow in the shallow waters of the tributaries of the Amazon River.

Today, continue your educational tour of the fruits of the Amazon. The team onboard will introduce you to camu camu. This red fruit is high in antioxidant power due to its high concentration of vitamin C. It is known to help mitigate the negative impact of stress and the action of free radicals in the body as well as prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

In the afternoon, en route to Nauta, take a guided tour of the small riverside village of San José de Paranapura and meet the indigenous inhabitants who call the Amazon home. Take the opportunity to support the local crafts women of the communities by purchasing small arts and handicrafts form the local markets.  Thread your way through a dense and wild primary forest, heading toward a small lake known as a common habitat for the "Shansho" or Hoatzin, a herbivorous and prehistoric appearing bird species only found near lakes in the Amazon.

Head back to the ship for dinner as you cruise into Nauta for the evening. 

 

This morning, after breakfast, take a tour of the town of Nauta to meet the riverside inhabitants. Learn more about the types of fish and fruits found in the Amazon at the local market. Keep an eye out for is Cocona, a delicious citrus fruit with a reddish-yellow color and a high vitamin C. Your guide will be sure to point this out if available. According to legend, Kukama chief Manuel Pacaya Irarica founded Nauta on April 30, 1830, but it was officially established as a town in 1930. The locals value Nauta because it’s a key spot for selling their crops and serves as a link to Iquitos, the capital of the Peruvian Amazon.

Board the skiff to explore Nauta Caño, part of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Nauta Caño is known as the forest of mirrors because of its incredible and beautiful sunsets that reflect off of the black waters of the cochas and the flooded forest. Observe the wildlife native to this unique forest, such as squirrel monkeys, toucans, macaws, iguanas, dolphins, and caimans.

The ship will stay in Nauta Caño tonight.

This morning after breakfast, disembark the ship and take a walk through Fundo Casual, a tropical forest managed by local residents, where you'll  have the opportunity to observe various rainforest species. Keep your eyes open for tarantulas, rainbow boas, sloths, anacondas, and poison frogs! Your guide will ensure these are all observed from a safe distance. You’ll also have the chance to buy handcrafted items made from wood and other materials native to the Amazon. After your exploration, head back to the boat for a hearty lunch.

After lunch, we’ll head out on an excursion to Yanayacu, a blackwater river within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Here, you can spot macaws, various monkey species like squirrel monkeys and howler monkeys, as well as pink and gray dolphins, paiches, and black and white caimans. Before nightfall, we'll venture into the Pucate River to search for caimans, nocturnal birds, and anacondas, and to enjoy the stunning sunset colors over the river. If we stay until dark, we'll be treated to the sounds of the jungle as night falls. 

After a big day, relax and enjoy the sounds of the Amazon from your cabin. The ship will spend the night in Yanayacu Pucate.

After breakfast, visit Las Palmas, a village surrounded by natural beauty and tropical splendor. Here, enjoy biodiversity, impressive views, and wild animals. In Las Palmas, you will learn how the locals carry on traditional hunting practices with the the blowgun, spear, and bow with demonstrations by the village hunters.

Back on board, enjoy a hearty lunch while your guides provide information a bout some of the most revered species of plants in Peruvian culture. Learn about how local flora was utilized during the Incan Empire and why certain plant species are still sacred today. 

This evening, board the skiff and head to Shiriyacu, a blackwater stream, to fish for piranhas. Next, explore the Pahuashiro tributary of the Marañón River and search for wildlife. Enjoy the stunning landscape, with opportunities to see birds and monkeys, and capture the sunset in this picturesque setting.

Today, relax and enjoy your long journey back to Iquitos. As you sail back to Iquitos, the onboard crew has a special treat planned for the day. Learn about the history and origin of Peru's signature alcohol and world renowned cocktail, the pisco sour. Once you have become an expert on it's history, you will have the opportunity to try your own hand at creating these emblematic cocktails. 

Next up, the chef will introduce you to a native Amazon species of fish, the Paiche. Learn traditional preparation and cooking methods of the fish, as well as information on its breeding cycles, importance within the Amazon river food chain and how the species is being protected today from overfishing. 

This afternoon, explore the Tahuayo River on the skiff with your guides. As you navigate the river, observe a variety of swallows, tropical songbirds, piprites, black-necked falcons, and sloths. Along the way, take the opportunity to try fishing for the fierce piranhas that inhabit these waters and perhaps catch a few other local species your guide can identify for you.

Return to the ship for your final dinner. After dinner, head upstairs to the third deck for a delightful farewell cocktail.

Breakfast will be served slightly later than usual today. Enjoy a bit of a rest this morning.

After breakfast, head up to the bar on the third deck and join the bartender for your final array of fruit smoothies, and jungle inspired cocktails and refreshments before your trip comes to a close.

Upon arrival at the port, check out and gather your items for disembarkation, where the bus will be waiting to take you to the airport. The guides will be available to offer additional assistance if necessary, assisting you until you have boarded your return flight to Lima.

Note: The itineraries and programs may vary depending on the climate, water level of the river, or migratory cycle of the animals. Therefore, the navigation route, schedules, and excursions may need to be modified at the guide’s or cruise captain’s discretion. The visit to the native communities is an excellent way to contribute to their development since the villagers have the opportunity to sell their one-of-a-kind handicrafts. There is no commitment, but if you are planning on buying a gift or souvenir, please bring some cash with you.